Car-coupling.



M. SABLE.

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l I f v f v. 1 v I THE NUKKIJ PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LVTHOvv WASHINGTON, D. C.

M. SABLE.

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. 1914.

- Patent-ed May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHQTQ-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D, C

MORRIS SABLE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Application filed September 19, 1914. Serial No. 862,495.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for facilitating the uncoupling of cars, and more particularly when the couplings of the latter are under great strain, due to the fact that the train is in motion, or which is true when the train comes to a stand still.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, it has been impossible to uncouple cars while the train is moving, and even when a train is not moving, it has been necessary to back the same a short distance to relieve the strain upon the various couplings before it is possible to uncouple them, and such action not only takes time, but the smashing and jarring incident thereto is very detrimental to the said cars. My improvement overcomes this obstacle, since, by the employment of the same, it is possible to release the cars even though their coupling members may be under strain, and this is accomplished by a double link connection between the heel of the knuckle of each coupler head, and a pin passed through the body of the head and an operative connection between the said pin, and a lever attachment mounted upon the end of the car adapted to be. operated by a trainman for the purpose aforesaid.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing,--Figure 1 is a top plan view partially in section, of two of my improved couplings, in interlocked position. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the couplers in the open or uncoupled position. Fig. 4

is a view taken in the direction of arrow 4, Fig. 3.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate each of two cars provided with draw bars 6 and the latter equipped with coupling heads 7, which are recessed as shown at 8. Within the forward portion of each recess on one side of the head, is pivotally mounted as disclosed at 9, a knuckle 10 of ordinary construction. The heel 11 of each knuckle is pivotally connected as shown at 12, with a link 13, the opposite extremity of which is pivotally connected at 20, with one end of a second link 14, whose opposite end is rigidly connected at 15, with a pin 16, which passes through perforations 17 formed in the coupler head 7 and through the inner portion of the recess 8, diagonally opposite from the pivotal connection 9. The portion of the pin 16 within the recess 8 is square in cross section, as is also the perforation in the link 14, through which it passes, where by the aforesaid rigid connection between the same is formed. In order to hold this pin in the proper position, it is provided with a collar 19 which bears upon the upper surface of the coupler head and a cotter pin passed through its lower extremity and adapted to engage the under surface of said Referring to Figs. 1 and 8 of the drawing, when the opposing coupler heads come together, the outer extremity of each lmuckle will strike a pivotal connection 12, thereby forcing the heels 11 of the knuckles together with the respective links 13 and 14 within the recesses 8,causing the knuckles to engage each other. Now, referring to the left hand coupler head, in Fig. 1, it will be noticed that when the knuckles are interlocked, the pivotal connection 20 between the links 13 and 14 is thrown to the left of the dead center between the connections 12 and 15, said center being illustrated by the line a-a, and therefore, when a pull is exerted upon the knuckle 10, it will hold firmly, since the greater the strain at this point, the greater is the pressure of the links 13 and 14 at the pivotal connection 20 against the rear wall of the recess 8 at the point indicated by the arrow B, and also of the opposite extremity of the link 14 against the wall of the said recess, at the point indicated by the arrow C,

and as before mentioned, as long as the connection is to the left of the dead center, illustrated by the line aa, it will be impossible for the knuckle 10 to swing upon its pivot 9. In order to manipulate the aforesaid construction for uncoupling cars,'I provide the upper extremity of the pin 16 of each coupler head with a perforation 21 through which one extremity of a rock arm 22 is passed, the end of said extremity being upset to prevent its withdrawal, while the opposite extremity of said rock arm is pivotally connected as shown at 28, with one end of a connecting bar 24, the opposite extremity of which is pivotally connected as shown at 25, with a bell crank lever 26, the latter being pivoted upon a pin 27 mounted upon the end of the car near one side thereof. It will be noticed that the handle part 28 of the bell crank leveris approximately twice as long as the part 29, whereby a leverage of two to one is obtained, and attention isfurther called to the fact that it is preferable to make the link 14 shorter than the link 13, thereby adding an increased leverage and thus only a small amount of force need be applied to the handle 28 to carry the joint 20 to the right of the line a a, for uncoupling cars.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved device will be readily understood. lVhen it is desired to uncouple two cars, the lever mechanism connected with one coupler member is operated by applying force to the handle 28 of the bell crank lever in the direction of the arrow D, Fig. 4, which imparts a longitudinal movement to the bar 24 and this bar operates the rock arm 22 to turn the pin 16. Now, by virtue of the rigid connection between the pin 16 and the link 14 when the pin is turned, the pivotal connection 20 between the links 13 and 14 is moved outwardly beyond the dead center, whereby the knuckle, because of the pressure thereon, will swing on its pivot 9 and release the opposing coupler member, and attention is particularly called to the fact that it is only necessary to move the pivotal connection 20 just beyond the dead center to accomplish this. It will be understood of course, that the coupling mechanism of each member may be moved by its lever attachment to the open position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when desired, as would be the case when coupling two cars. Attention is further called to the fact that the connection between the link 14 and the operating mechanism may be made in any suitable manner without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is,

1. In a car coupling, a coupler having a recessed head, a knuckle pivotally mounted within said recess at the forward extremity of the latter, a link having one extremity pivotally connected with the heel of said knuckle, a second link pivotally connected with the opposite extremity of said first named link, the said pivotal connection between the two links when the knuckle is in the locked position being in the rear of the line of force applied to open the knuckle and adapted to lie adjacent the rear wall of the recess, the coupler head provided with perforations which register with its recess, a pin extending through said perforations and recess, and rotatable therein, and rigidly connected within said recess with one extremity of the second named link, suitable means mounted upon the end of the car in proximity of the coupler, and an operative connection between the pin and said means for throwing the joint between the first and second named links forwardly of said line of force, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a car coupling, a coupler having a recessed head, a knuckle pivotally mounted within said recess at the forward extremity of the latter, a link having one extremity pivotally connected with the heel of said knuckle, a second link pivotally connected with the opposite extremity of said first named link, said pivotal connection between the two links when the knuckle is in the locked position being in the rear of the line of force applied to open the knuckle and adaptedto lie adjacent the rear wall of the recess, the coupler head provided with perforations which register with the recess therein, a pin extending through said perforations and recess and rotatable therein and rigidly connected within said recess with one extremity of the second named link, actuating means mounted upon the end of the car in proximity to the coupler, and an operative connection between the pin and said means for throwing the pivotal connection between the two links forwardly of said line of force, whereby the knuckle is released and allowed to swing upon its pivot.

3. In a car coupling, a coupler having a recessed head, a knuckle pivotally mounted within said,recess in the forward extremity of the latter, a link having one extremity pivotally connected with the heel of said knuckle, a second link pivotally connected with the opposite extremity of said first named link and means for limiting the rearward movement of said connection, the coupler head provided with perforations which register with its recess, a pin extending throughsaid perforations and recess and rotatable therein, and rigidly connected within the recess with one extremity of the second named link, and actuating means connected with the pin for throwing the joint between the first and second named links in a forward or rearward direction to respectively release and lock the knuckle for the purpose set forth.

4. In a car coupling, a coupler having a recessed head, a knuckle pivotally mounted within said recess, a link having one extremity pivotally connected with the heel of said knuckle, a second link pivotally connected with the opposite extremity of said first named link, the said pivotal connection between the two links when the knuckle is in the locked position being in the rear of the line of force applied to open the knuckle, and means for limiting the rearward movement of the last named pivotal connection, means rotatably mounted in the coupler head and rigidly connected within the recess with one extremity of the second named link, and actuating means connected with said last named means for throwing the joint between the first and second named links forwardly of the said line of force.

5. In a car coupler, a coupler having a recessed head, a knuckle pivotally mounted within said recess, a link having one extremity pivotally connected with the heel of said knuckle, a second link pivotally connected with the opposite extremity of said first Copies of this patent may be obtained for named link, said pivotal connection between the two links when the knuckle is in the locked position being in the rear of the line of force applied to open the knuckle, means for limiting the rearward movement of the last named pivotal connection, one extremity of the second named link being pivotally mounted in the coupler head, and means for operating this link to throw the connection between the latter and the first named link forward of the said line of force.

6. In a car coupler, a coupler having a recessed head, a knuckle pivotally mounted within said recess, a link having one extremity pivotally connected with the heel of said knuckle, a second link pivotally connected with the opposite extremity of said first named link, one extremity of the second named link being pivotally mounted in the coupler head, and means for turning the said second named link upon its pivot, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MORRIS SABLE.

Witnesses:

MAZE KIRBY, A. EBERT OBRIEN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

